A good waltz lead will learn to count the waltz as 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, 6 rather than 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3. This will help the lead
to keep track of his patterns as many patterns start on count
1 (when his left foot is free) and many patterns start on count
4 (when his right foot is free). A good example of this is
the progressive left waltz turns which start on count 1, and
the progressive right waltz turns which start on count 4.

Good dancers will include the "rise and fall" of the waltz in
every pattern throughout the entire dance. (to count: 1 Low,
2 rise, 3 fall, 4 low, 5 rise, 6 fall). The "rise and fall"
during the waltz should be smooth like the rise and fall of a
horse on a carousel. We can make the waltz much more dramatic
by taking much larger steps on counts 1 and 4 and making our
other steps smaller.

Progressive waltz turns are a challenge for beginners because
you must turn 360 degrees with your partner every six steps
while traveling briskly down the dance floor. The secret to
making progressive waltz turns well is to dance straight through
your partner and do not try to dance around your partner. The
look of the waltz turns can be dramatically improved if both
partners add a "lock step" as follows. On left waltz turns,
the man will add a lock step on count 3 and the lady should lock
on count 6. To simplify this, add the lock step anytime you are
traveling forward into a waltz turn. Remember that you lock at
opposite times from your partner. When the man locks, the lady
doesn't, when the lady locks, the man doesn't. Neither partner
should lock during right waltz turns.

The two styles of formal waltz are American and International.
In American-style waltz, dancers can include a multitude of
patterns that allow space and separation between the dancers.
In international-style waltz, dance partners are required to
maintain body contact throughout the dance. Waltz dancers
look especially attractive when the lean their upper body back
and strengthen the dance frame between the lead and the follow.
This is especially crucial in international-style waltz to keep
the frame strong between dancers who are so close together.

The speed of waltz can vary dramatically. Slow Modern Waltz
ranges from 85 to 110 bpm (beats per minute). Medium speed
waltzes range from 110 to 140 bpm. Lastly, fast (Viennese)
waltzes range from 140 to 180 bpm. Many beginning dancers
are afraid to try Viennese waltz because it seems too fast. The
secret to dancing Viennese Waltz well is taking very
small quick steps on some patterns and using hold-tap footwork on other
patterns. In hold-tap footwork, you will take a step and hold on 1,
2, 3 with all weight, and while you are holding use your other foot
to do a tap with no weight on count 2 hold 3.

Good waltz dancers will travel gracefully and continuously around
the room following the line-of-dance. If another couple gets in
their way, a good waltz couple will immediately and smoothly
switch to patterns that stay in one place until traffic clears,
whereupon they can resume traveling down the dance floor.

Lastly, waltz should be very smooth and the feet should hardly
make a sound as they touch the floor. To improve your style,
rather than dancing "on the floor", think about literally trying
to dance "above the floor" as you dance the waltz.

The music for waltz uses the 3/4 time signature with three beats
per measure and an accent on count 1.

Waltz History

Since the waltz first originated in Vienna, Austria in ≈1800
it has remained popular for 200 years and is still popular today.
The word "Waltz" comes from the old German world "waltzen" which
means to roll, turn, or glide. In the early 1800's, the waltz
caused a scandal (and was called an immoral dance) because of its
romantic elements and close positions. Also, in the early 1800's,
the man's outstretched hand was on top of the lady's outstretched
hand in a protective position as it was considered much too
intimate to hold the outstretched hands palm-to-palm. Even the
fact that dancers stood very closely together in a face-to-face
position was considered scandalous by the churches of the early
1800's. One commentator, in describing the dance could not even
say the waltz was danced face-to-face and described that the waltz
as being danced "the opposite of back to back".

Waltz looks especially pretty if you take a larger step on
count 1 and on count 4. When you can do the steps correctly
and with good balance, then start taking larger steps
throughout the waltz.

Waltz Style

"Dance Above the Floor." The waltz is a smooth dance. Graceful,
fluid movement. Legs, feet, and body should move smoothly
throughout the dance. You should glide smoothly across the
floor. You should move across the floor with ease. Don't push
downward into the floor (notice the differences from the Latin
dancer that places each foot carefully on clay floors). The
waltz is traditionally danced in big ballroom floors (with sure
footing) in Europe.

Progressive Dance

The waltz can be done in one location, or it can progress around
the room along the line of dance. In traditional ballroom dancing
and in country dancing, the waltz is almost always a progressive
dance. As you are moving around the room, if someone gets in your
way, then you should switch to your stationary patterns until
traffic clears and you can again start traveling. (Note: Other
progressive dances include the foxtrot, country two-step, and
polka). If the dance floor is too crowded to progress down the
floor, then use stationary waltz dance patterns and treat the
waltz as a spot dance.

Forms of the Waltz

The two primary forms of waltz are the "Modern Waltz" which is
slow, and the "Viennese Waltz" which is fast. The Viennese Waltz
is twice as fast as the Modern Waltz.

In America, the Country Waltz is an important dance. The
Country waltz include a basic that progresses forward on every
step, whereas the ballroom progressive forward waltz includes a side step.

American Style Waltz is similar to the International Style
except that it has both open and closed positions. This provides
the American Style dancer with more opportunities for variety and
self-expression.

International Style Waltz is danced in close position.
International Style dancers are required to maintain contact at
the mid-section of the body with no "gapping".

Waltz Technique

Dance Position: Although close dance position is technically correct for traditional ballroom dance, most people use a closed position for the waltz.

Use standard ballroom hold. Keep your shoulders level. Ladies left elbow is outside of and on top of the man's right elbow.

Use Close Position for Progressive Waltz Turns in the Line of Dance: The guy will need to pull the lady into close position when doing progressive turns in the line of dance. Whenever you are making sharp turns with a high degree of rotation with your partner, you must be close together or you will not be able to complete the turn successfully.

Guys, since there are several patterns that start on count 1 and there are several patterns that start on count 4, you should count the waltz as "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6". The guy will step with his left foot on count 1 and with his right foot on count 4. Remember that most patterns start on count 1. However right turns and 6-count walk-arounds start on count 4.

Foot placement: Keep the weight forward on your feet and when do come down on your heels, do so softly. Heel-ball-toe going forward and Toe-ball-heel going backwards.

Rise and fall (on the ball of your feet on counts 2 and 5). Rise and fall should be smooth like a horse on a carousel. Both the man and the woman should use rise and fall throughout the entire dance in all of the patterns.

2-way turns: left turns → ½ basic → right turns → ½ basic → twinkle → repeat. (Note: You must do a ½ box before doing a right turn. The left turn starts on count 1, and the right turn starts on count 4)

Waltz Turns Line of Dance

men swing thru, lady swing thru (chassé turns).

Try to stay on a straight line as you do waltz turns line-of-dance. The lead should travel straight through the lady (like walking through a door) on counts 1, 2, 3, and the lady should travel straight through the man on counts 4, 5 6.

Guys, remember that you will need to be close to your partner when doing a sharp turn with your partner in closed position. Guys, remember to pull her into "close" position.

Waltz turns line-of-dance must turn 180º on the first 3 counts, or you will have to turn even more than halfway on the next 3 counts.

For slower waltz music, use the feather step to improve flow. Instead of bringing the feet together on count six, the lead travels forward on count 6 with the lady to his front right and with both partners keeping their left should forward.

sweetheart shadow: open break in handshake position → pull her into sweetheart while doing the fake → go side-to-side in double sweetheart shadow matching her footwork → fake back to the basic and switch the hands

cuddle shadow (or "cuddle guided turn")

skater shadow

Passing patterns (from open break):

passing hand change: switch to handshake position → open break → the man pulls her to his side while he passes behind her and goes to the opposite side (as the man passes her he lets his opposite hand slide down her opposite shoulder to switch the hands) → repeat the passing hand change 3 times

Don Sohn

Underarm pass

passing underarm turn

cross-hold two-hand passing turns

(From shake-hands position, start this pattern by first bringing one hand over her head, then ask for the other hand.)

closed promenade charge
Each partner is at a 45º angle and partners are slightly apart. The man's right hand can hold the lady's side to keep her from turning.

Same-hand crossover (full moon):

Start with a cross-body lead and switch to same hands and roll into a forward crossover. The man hold the lady's right hand with his right hand throughout the remainder of this pattern. The man then turns 180º and leads the lady into a cross-body lead followed by a forward crossover. This pattern is repeated several times. During each crossbody lead, the lady raises her left hand in a large circular gentle arc that ends with her left hand on her right shoulder. During each forward crossover, the lady extends her left hand straight out to her left side. At the end of the pattern, the lady does an inside double-turn to the right followed immediately by the basic.

Curtsy and Bow (Starter Step)

Both partners start facing the same direction with the lady on the man's right. Both partners start on their left foot. The man does back balance4,5,6 bow1,2,3 forward balance4,5,6 with no weight on 2nd foot. Lady turns 180° in 3 steps4,5,6, curtsy1,2,3, forward balance4,5,6.

Lady's curtsy: Lady steps behind with the left foot, then bends both knees with all of her weight on the back knee, and then straightens and closes toward the front foot. (She should bow her head slightly at an angle and her front foot should be pointed and should touch the floor with the toe. She should have her arms in front of her and can hold her dress in two points when she bends.)

Gentleman's bow: The gentlemen steps to the side with his left foot, then closes with his right foot to the instep of the left, and then bows (while looking at the lady) from his navel upward, and then straightens.